Operating mechanism for washing machines



April 6,1926.

F. BALZER OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed April 25 1924 Patented Apr. 6,1926.

UNITED; sm rss Pn' rsm: stiles,

FRITZi BALZER, 0F Momnni. ILLINOIS; nss enon To TROY LAUNDRY MACHINERY 00., LTD, 035 GKIGAGO, ILLINOIS, n-cosronerxonon NEW YORK.

OPERATING.MECHAl\TISM F63, WASHING MACHINES;

Application filed Apr-11' 25, 192 Serial: No. 708,938.

To all whom it may con cor/1 Be it known that I,-Fnrrz Bixnznn. a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in th'e'connty of Rock Island andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and ful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for \Vashinq hlachines ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to operatingr mechanism for washing machines.

ashing machines are commonly provided with a rotarycylinder together with mechanism-for rotating said cylinder a pie det-ermi-ned number of revolutions in one direction; thenapredetermincd number of revolutions in the-reverse direction, this! alternation in the direction of-rotat-ion being maintained throughoutthe washing operation. This reversing process is usually ac complished, on beltdrivenmaehines, by the useof twoloose pulleys and a-tight pulley, said pulleys being served by- IMStlillglit and a crossedbelt; 'Thegstraight and cross-belts" aremo'ved by meehanism= providedfor' the purpose in such a manner'tl'iat first the one and then the other of said straigl it and crossedbelt's are-moyedinto driving" relation with the tight pulle y. When the machine is at i'esnboth-the straight andrcrossed belts are on the loose pulleys.

In Washing; machineconstruction the rotary cylinder is commonly mounted within an outer housing, boththe rotarycylinder and the housing beingprovided with'doors whereby access may behad'frOm the outside of the housing tothe'interior of the cylinder. It is necessary, of course, in order to provide such access that the cylinder must be so spotted with reference to thehousing that the cylinder door and the housing door are in registry. In order to stop the cylinder at the proper position, in devices as heretoforeprovided, a number of motions have beennecessary on the ator. p

An object of the present: invention is to provide washing machinecontrol mechanism which will eliminate a large number of the motions now required on the part of the 'operatonandwhich villsimplify the matter of stopping the cylinder atany desired pointf p A further object is to provide washing machine control mechanism in which the control is l'oealizchpart of the oper- A further objectis to pnovide'washing machine control mechanism which is sturdy in construction and little liable .to get out of order.

Further objects will appearas the descrip tion' proceeds- I The one figure of the drawing-is a perspective View of a preferred embodimentof the present invention.

The' numeral '1 indicates a shaft, which i the axis of a. washing .I machine cylinden. Said shaft 1 is providedwith a pinion 2 for drivingth'e washingimachine cylinder not shown). Mounted upon the shaft 1 is certain brake mechanism, indicatednby' the numeral 3, which brake mechanism is operated by means of the levers. ..The -de:- tails of the brake mechanismneed not be illustrated or described,i brakenmechanisms for the purpose being" wellv known and readily procura'ble in the market. Securely fastened: to the shaft 1 is the pulley 5; which pulley will be referred to hereinafter as the tight pulley. Said tight pulley 5 is flanked on its two sides'by thelooseipnlleys 6 audit, said pulleys. G and 7 beingicapablel of free rotation upon shaft 1. BeltsJS- and. Sare provided, which are adaptedto .be-simult-ane- 8 will be shifted to the tight pulley'5. For

reasons which will be referred tohereinafter, the belt 8 has driving 'relat-ionfiwith the loo:;e pulley 6 at alltimes. .Forthis pm may bennonnted in parallel 'relationwith pose the width of pulley 8 may be greater than the width-of pulley v Mounted adjacent tothe shaft 1 is the power transn'iitting casing- 10 which casing contains certain canimcchanism operatively connected to'the-loos'e pulley 6. Driven by the mechanism within the'casing 1.0 is the arm 11, which arm may be provided with the arcuate lower portion 12. The portion 12 isprovidedwith a netch'13, whichwill I be referred to hereinafter. I I

The details of theniechanism within the need not be illustrated; or ide dur= fitin casin 1O scribeth being su Y imp; colitiiiu ous irritat on of tin?! pulley one direction, the arm 11 will be oscillated.

back and forth at certain predetermined intervals, the movement of the arm 6 from one of its extreme positions to the other being relatively rapid. The mechanism for accomplishing the oscillation of the arm 11 is well known to those skilled in the art.

The numeral 1 1 indicates a plate for carrying belt shifter mechanism. Said belt shifter mechanism comprises lugs 1515, which lugs carry the strap 16 encircling the tight pulley 5. Said strap 16 is provided with a pair of belt enclosing members, one,

of which is illustrated, being indicated by the numeral 17. Said member 1'? is shown on the drawing as being operatively associated with belt 9. It will be clear that a similar belt enclosing member, secured to the strap 16, will be ope 'atively associated with belt 8. The plate 1st may be supported for reciprocation in any preferred way. Reciprocation of plate 1 1 and its associated mechanism is accomplished by means of the rod 17, which is mounted in parallel relationship with the shaft 1. Mounted upon the plate 14- is the boss 18, which provides a pivotal support for the swinging lever 19, which lever is adapted to have swinging movement in a plane normal to the axis of shaft 1 and rod 17. Said lever 19 is adapted to lodge itself within the notch 13 of arm 11, being biased to a position for such lodgment by the weight 20. Enveloping the rod 17 is the sleeve 21, which sleeve is adapted to have an oscillating movement about the axis of rod 17. Said sleeve 21 is provided with the abutment member 22, which is adapted to hold lever 19 out of its biased position, that is-out of lodgment with the notch 13 of the arm 11. The sleeve 21 is also provided with an arm 23 fixed thereto, which is connected with the brake arm 1 by means ot the adjustable rod 24?. It will be clear that rotation of sleeve 21 in the direction of the arrow will result in the disengagement of lever 19 from the arm 11. Such movement will also draw down the arm +1 of the brake mechanism 3 whereby to cause said brake mechanism to perform its braking functions.

Cooperative-1y associated with one end of the rod 17 is the member 25, which operates through a link 26 to control the movement of a lever 27, The lever 27 is fixed to sleeve 28, which is adapted to have an oscillating movement within the bearing 29. Fixed to the sleeve 28 is the handle box 30, which handle box is provided with the handle 31 pivoted thereto about the axis 32. It will be clear that reciprocation of the rod 17, which reciprocation is longitudinal of said rod, will communicate an oscillating movement to the sleeve 28 and the handle b x 30, which oscillating movement will be co-axial with the axis of sleeve 28.

Mounted within the sleeve 2% is the rod 33, which rod is connected at one ot its ends to the handle 31 and at the other of its ends to the bell crank lever which bell crank lever is pivoted for movement about the axis 35. The bell crank lever 3% is adapted to lodge within a slot 3% formed in the lever 27. The parts ot lever 27 adjacent to the slot 3 1 may be rounded off, as indicated by the numerals 3%34, to facilitate the matter of locating lever 27 in such a position that slot 3 1 will coincide with bell crank level 3 1, the reason for which will appear hereinafter. The other arm of the bell crank lever 34: is connected, by means of the rod 36, to an arm 37, which arm 37 is secured to the sleeve 21.

A mode or operation ot the above de scribed embodiment of the present invention is substantially as follows: When it is desired to operate the washing machine for normal operation, that isa predetermined number of revolutimis in one direction, alternating with a predetermined number of revolutions in the reverse direction, the handle 31 will be moved to the dotted line position indicated by'the numeral 38. This movement of the handle 31 will result in the movement of rod ;3 and bell crank lever 31 to pull down on the rod 36. The pulling down on the rod 36 will cause rotation of sleeve 21. Such rotation of sleeve 21 will move abutment member 22 out of cooperative relationship with the lever 19. Assuming that the belt 8 has been driving the loose pulley (3 and thereby communicating an oscillatory movement to the arm 11, thenoteh 13 will be brought into a position at which the lever 19 may lodge therein. Oscillating movement of the arm 11 will, by reason of the connection between said arm 11, lever 19 and plate 12, result in the reciprocation of the belt shifting strap 16 in a direction parallel with the axis of the shaft 1. Move ment of strap 16 will cause the shitting of the belts 8 and 9 whereby one or the other of said belts will be moved into cooperative relationship with the tight pulley tor a predetermined number o't revolutions oi" said tight pulley 5. After said predetermined number of revolutions have been accomplished, the arm 11 will be moved to cause the shifting of the belts, whereby rot. tion oi the shaft 1 is reversed. The reciprocatitm of the plate 11 will result in the longitudinai reciprocationot the rod 17, which, acting through the member link 26 and lever 27, will oscillate the sleeve 28 to cause oscillation of the handle box 30 about the axis of said sleeve 28. Oscillation of the handle box 30 will therefore continue throughout rotation of shaft 1. hen it is desired to stop the washing machine, the handle 31 will be grasped and moved to its full line position. This movement will result in the lllU raising of the rod 86, causing. the sleeve 21 to rotate. This rotation. of. the sleeve 21 be accomplished with the exercise of a minimum of discretion on the part; of said operator. The washing. machine cylinder should be stopped at a predetermined point inthe oscillationofthe handle box 30 about the axis of sleeve 28; It is not considered advisable to relyupon the operator to bring the washing machine from full speed to a dead stop at anypredetermined point of said oscillation, for. which reason the preliminary braking above referred to-is made use of.

At. the time that the handle 31 is moved to full. line position, the handle box may be at any point inits range of! oscillation, and. consequently belts 8 and-9 may be at any pointwithin their range of shifting. After slowing down the washing machine cyl nder by reasonof the light application of the brake 3, the operator may inch the washing machine cylinder to the proper position. swinging the handle box 30 COZLXHLllY" with sleeve 28, the positions of the belts t3 and 9 may be controlled as desired to control the'rotation ofsh'a-ft 1 which is geared to the washingmachinecylinder (not shown).

lVhen said washing machine cylinder is prop,-

erly spotted, thehandle 81 will bemoved to a position. such that the slot 34 tion to receive bellcrank lever 34:, after which said handle will be mo-vedto the dotted line position indicated by. the numeral 39. The-roundedportions 3 -1 adjacent to the slot Sl will facilitate the'locating. of.

lever 27 in such a-position that notch willengage with the bell crank lever- S t. Movement ofthe handle 31 to the full stop positionindicatedby the numeral 89 will result in the raising of rod 36, which produces-a efurther rotation ofsleeve 21 in the direction of the arrow. 7 cause the brake rod 34 tofully apply the brake. to shaft 1, whereby thewashing ma chine cylinder-will bebroughtto a full stop.

It will be noted that at this time, i. e., with the handle box 30 at such a point. in its range of oscillation that notch 34 coincides with bell crank lever 34, the belts. 8- and 9 will both be on. the loose pulleys, so that there will be no tendency forthe washing. machine cylinder to rotate.

By reason of the present invention a strum is in a posi- This movement will i ture' is provided bymeansof which an operator maywit-ha; minimum orf'skill bring a, washing machine cylinder to a stop at a predetermined point. in its rotation.

Though a preferred,embodiment ofthe pres;

ent invention. has been described in'detail, itwill be understood that many, mod hcatlons will occur to those skilled in theart.

It is intended in this patent to cover. all such modifications that fall within the scope-w of" the invention asv delinedby-the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. Belt shifting mechanism comprisinga pair of loose pulleys and a tight pulley,

belts cooperating therewith, a shaft con- .nected, with said tight pulley, said belts bemg; adapted selectively to drive said tight pulley in opposite directions, an oscillating member driven by one of said loose pulleys, belt engaging.mechanism adapted to be engaged with or disengaged from said oscillating member, a brake for'said shaft, ant a unitary control for controlling. saidbrake and for controlling the connection between.

said oscillatingmember and said beltengag- 111g; mechanism.

2.-In.combination, a rotary shaft, a source of power, means for controllingthe rotation of said shaft from said source to produce a predetermined number'of revolutions in one direction alternating with a predetermined number of revolutions in the opposite direction, means for interrupting the driving relation between said shaft and said source, a brake for said shaft, and: common means for-applying; said brake and controlling said interrupting means.

3. In combination,a rotary shaft, a source of power, automatic means for controlling the connection between said source ofpower and said shaft for alternately. producing rotation of said shaft inopposite directions, a brake, and unitary manually operable means for controlling the. connection between said source of power and said shaft for. alternately. producinq rotation of. said shaft in opposite directionsand for controllingsaid brake.

4. In combination, a rotary shaft, a source of power, automatic. means for controlling for said shaft, and manually operable means for operating said brake and for controlling the connection between said source and said shaft to control the direction of rotation of said shaft by said source independently of said automatic means, said manually operable means being provided with amember for disconnecting said automatic means.

6. In combination, a rotary shaft, a source of power, automatic means for controlling the connection between said source and said shaft for alternately producing rotation of said shaft in opposite directions, a brake for said shaft, and manually operable means for operating said brake and for controlling the connection between said source and said shaft to control the direction of rotation of said shaft by said source independently of said automatic means, said manually operable means being provided with a member ror disconnecting said automatic means, said manually operable means also including an oscillatable member responsive to the movement of said direction controlling means, said oscillatablc member including a member swinging in another direction and said manually operable member including means for preventing the full application of said brake unless said oscillatable memher is in a predetermined position.

7. In combination, a rotary shaft, a fitted pulley thereon, loose pulleys associated therewith, a pair of belts for selectively communicating movement to said fixed pulley in opposite directions, belt shifter mechanism for said pulleys, automatic mechanism driven from one of said loose pulleys for controlling said belt shifter mechanism, a brake, manual means for operating said brake, said manual means also having a connection for controlling the connection between said automatic mechanism and said belt shifter mechanism, and handle means having oscillating movement in response to movement of said belt shifter mechanism and having another movement in another direction, said handle means being capable of moving said belt shifter mechanism independently of said automatic mechanism.

8. In combination, a rotary shaft, a pulley fixed thereto. loose pulleys associated with said tight pulley, straight and crossed belts, means for shifting said belts between said loose pulleys and said tight pulley to cause reversals of rotation of said fixed pulley, automatic means for controlling the operation of said belt shifting means, brake means governing the connection between said automatic means and said belt shifting mechanism. means for manually shifting said belt shifting means independently of said automatic mechanism, and a handle carried by said mam-la] means for control lin said brake and for controllin said governing means.

9. In combination, a rotary shaft, fixed and loose pulleys on said shaft, straight and crossed belts on said pulleys, belt shifting mechanism, automatic mechanism for moving said belt shifting mechanism, means governing the connection between said automatic mechanism and said belt shifting mechanism, an oscillatable member connected with said belt shifter mechanism and adapted to operate said belt shifting mechanism when said belt shifting mechanism is disconnected from said automatic mechanism, a handle member carried by said oscillatable member, a brake for said shaft, connections between said brake and said handle whereby said handle member may control said brake, said handle member being operable in a step-by-step movement, and interfitting means for preventing the full application of said brake until said belt shifting mechanism is in a position to hold said belts free of said tight pulley.

10. In combination, belt shifter mechanism having a reciprocating movement, automatic mechanism for shifting said belt shifter mechanism, a brake, a handle receptacle connected to be oscillated by said belt shifter mechanism, a handle pivoted to said receptacle, connections between said handle and said brake, governing means fol. governing the connections between said automatic mechanisms and said belt shifter mechanism, and abutment means rendering it impossible to move said handle to full braking position until said belt shifter mechanism is in a 'nedetermined position.

11. In combination, a rotary shaft, belt shifter mechanism for governing the direction of rotation of said shaft, automatic mechanism for controlling said belt shifter mechanism, means for governing the connection between said automatic means and said belt shift-er mechanism, said governing means including a sleeve, a handle pro vided with means for communicating a movement of rotation to said sleeve, a brake connected with said sleeve, and a handle receptacle capable of oscillating movement at right angles to the direction of movement of said handle, said handle receptacle being connected by means of a rod within said sleeve to said belt shifter mechanism.

12. In combination, a rotary shaft, belt shifter mechanism for governing the direction of rotation of said shaft, automatic mechanisn'i for controlling said belt shifter mechanism, means for governing the connection between said automatic means and said belt shifter mechanism, said governing means including a sleeve, a handle provided with means for commnnicatinga movement of rotation to. sa d brain connected With said sleeve, and a handle receptacle capable of oscillating movement at right angles to the directlon of movement of said handle, said handle receptacle being connected by means of a rod within said sleeve to said belt shifter mechanism, said receptacle being provided with means for preventing a full application of said brake by said handle until said belt shifter mechanisin 15 in a predetermined position.

day cf April, 1924.

FRITZ BALZER.

Signed at Rock Island, Illinois, this 18th 

